Georgian parliament declares Russian peacekeepers ‘occupiers’

All Russian troops in the conflict zone are “occupiers”, according to a resolution in the Georgian parliament. It said that all military units, except those allowed by the Georgian constitution, are illegal. Thursday’s sitting of parliament ha

Earlier this week, Tbilisi recalled most of its embassy staff from Moscow.

The parliament has also called on the government to cancel all agreements which allow Russian peacekeepers to remain in the disputed republics. These include the UN-backed ceasefire deals of the 1990s.
 
The Georgian military launched an attack against South Ossetia on August 8, 2008.

Shortly afterwards, Russia called an emergency session of the UN Security Council in an attempt to end the Georgian aggression, but it didn’t bring any results.

Taking into consideration that many in South Ossetia had Russian passports, President Dmitry Medvedev ordered elements of Russia’s 58th Army to enter the conflict zone – the move Georgia called an invasion.

On Tuesday Russia recognised the independence of the republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Moscow says the decision to break off ties will not have a negative impact on Russia.

Konstantin Kosachev, Head of the Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “Of course it will be a regrettable step. Even though we may have different views on the conflict, Russia and Georgia are still neighbours. I’m sure both are equally interested in developing partnership and co-operation. Our relationship is not built around this conflict only. I’m deeply convinced that even now the relationship between the two nations still remains normal.”